Space Debris Cleanup Begins in 2026: Racing to Prevent Orbital Collapse

The United Kingdom and European Space Agency will launch the first national space debris removal mission in 2026. ClearSpace-1, developed by the Swiss company ClearSpace in partnership with ESA, will use robotic arms to capture a 113-kilogram Vespa rocket adapter left in orbit from a 2013 Vega launch. The spacecraft will then perform a controlled deorbit, burning up in Earth’s atmosphere along with the captured debris.

This mission represents the first operational attempt to remove existing orbital debris rather than simply tracking or avoiding it. Current surveillance systems monitor approximately 40,000 fragments larger than 10 centimeters. Estimates suggest hundreds of thousands of smaller pieces between 1-10 centimeters exist, along with millions of particles below 1 centimeter. Objects in low Earth orbit travel at approximately 7.8 kilometers per second. At these velocities, even small debris can cause catastrophic damage to operational satellites.

Collision Risk Escalation

SpaceX reported nearly 50,000 collision avoidance maneuvers in 2023 alone, operating its Starlink constellation. The company’s satellites performed automated maneuvers when conjunction probability exceeded safety thresholds. This number has increased substantially year over year as both operational satellites and debris density increase.

The growing collision rate creates a feedback loop. Each collision generates additional fragments, which increase the probability of subsequent collisions. This cascade effect, known as Kessler Syndrome after NASA scientist Donald Kessler who proposed the scenario in 1978, could render certain orbital altitudes unusable for decades.

Current debris growth occurs even without new launches. Fragmentation events from existing debris collisions and satellite breakups add objects faster than atmospheric drag removes them. Analysis suggests that even a complete halt to all launches would not prevent continued debris population growth at certain altitudes. Active removal becomes necessary to stabilize the orbital environment.

Technical Approaches to Debris Removal

ClearSpace-1 employs a proximity operations and capture approach. The spacecraft will rendezvous with the target object, match its orbit and rotation, then use four robotic arms to establish a secure grip. This technique works for intact objects with known characteristics, but presents challenges for tumbling debris or fragmented structures.

Other proposed methods include:

Net Capture: Deploying a net to ensnare debris, effective for smaller objects or those with irregular shapes. Surrey Space Centre demonstrated this technique with the RemoveDebris mission in 2018, successfully capturing a simulated target.

Harpoon Systems: Firing a projectile into debris to establish mechanical connection. RemoveDebris also tested this approach, though concerns exist about creating additional fragments upon impact.

Electrodynamic Tethers: Using long conductive tethers that interact with Earth’s magnetic field to generate drag, gradually lowering debris orbit. This passive approach requires no propellant but operates slowly.

Laser Ablation: Ground-based or space-based lasers that vaporize small amounts of debris surface material, creating thrust that alters orbit. Research continues on power requirements and targeting precision for operational systems.

Ion Beam Shepherd: Directing an ion beam at debris from a proximity spacecraft, imparting momentum without physical contact. This contactless method avoids collision risk during removal operations.

Each approach optimizes for different debris types and orbital regimes. No single solution addresses all debris removal scenarios. Operational systems will likely employ multiple techniques depending on target characteristics.

Economic Analysis

A May 2024 NASA cost-benefit study examined active debris removal economics. The analysis found benefits exceeding costs by factors of hundreds to one, even accounting for mission failures and technology development expenses. This ratio holds not only for removing large objects in high-density orbits but also for centimeter-sized debris in critical altitude bands.

The study modeled several scenarios:

  • Removing 5 objects per year from high-risk orbits
  • Targeting both intact satellites and fragmentation debris
  • Focusing on 700-1000 kilometer altitude bands where debris density peaks

All scenarios showed positive return on investment within 10-20 years when accounting for avoided satellite losses, insurance costs, and operational disruptions from collision avoidance maneuvers. However, these benefits are distributed across the entire space industry while removal costs fall on individual entities, creating a collective action problem.

Regulatory Framework

International space law provides limited guidance on debris removal. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 establishes that objects launched into space remain under the jurisdiction of the launching state. This creates complications when removing debris, as capturing another nation’s defunct satellite could be interpreted as interference with state property.

The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space adopted voluntary debris mitigation guidelines in 2007. These recommend post-mission disposal within 25 years for LEO satellites and minimizing debris generation during normal operations. However, these remain non-binding recommendations rather than enforceable regulations.

Recent regulatory developments include:

  • FCC requirements for U.S.-licensed satellites to deorbit within 5 years of mission end (reduced from previous 25-year guideline)
  • ESA’s Zero Debris policy targeting elimination of mission-related debris by 2030
  • Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee technical standards for debris mitigation

Liability concerns remain unresolved. If a debris removal mission inadvertently collides with or damages another object, liability assignment under existing frameworks is ambiguous. The UN Liability Convention addresses damage caused by space objects but predates large-scale debris removal concepts.

Path Forward

The World Economic Forum’s 2026 report “Clear Orbit, Secure Future” calls for coordinated international action on debris removal. The report identifies several critical steps:

Tracking Infrastructure: Current surveillance gaps exist for objects below 10 centimeters in LEO and 1 meter in geostationary orbit. Improved tracking enables better collision prediction and removal target prioritization.

Standardized Designs: Future satellites incorporating grapple fixtures, standardized attachment points, or “design for demise” features that ensure complete atmospheric burnup simplify end-of-life removal.

Economic Incentives: Mechanisms to fund debris removal, such as orbital use fees, debris bonds returned upon proper disposal, or international pooled funding, address the free-rider problem where all operators benefit from cleaner orbits regardless of contribution.

Removal Prioritization: Not all debris presents equal risk. Objects in high-inclination orbits, large intact satellites with remaining fuel, and debris in densely populated altitude bands warrant priority for removal missions.

Technology demonstration missions like ClearSpace-1 validate removal techniques and operational procedures. The mission’s 2026 launch timeline coincides with planned demonstrations from Japan’s ADRAS-J program and commercial ventures by Astroscale and other firms. Success in these initial missions builds confidence for larger-scale removal operations.

The space debris problem has transitioned from theoretical concern to operational constraint. Collision avoidance maneuvers disrupt satellite operations, increase fuel consumption, and reduce mission lifespans. Insurance costs for space assets increase as collision probability rises. Some orbital altitudes approach density thresholds where cascade effects become self-sustaining.

The 2026 debris removal missions test whether active cleanup can transition from engineering concept to routine operation. The fundamental question is not technical feasibility but economic and political will to implement removal at scale. Current debris accumulation rates suggest that without active removal, portions of low Earth orbit may become too hazardous for safe operations within decades. The ClearSpace-1 mission and its contemporaries represent the first operational attempts to reverse rather than merely slow orbital environment degradation.

Official Sources